# How to Run DeepSeek Locally on VS Code for Free (Zero Cloud Cost)
If you are a developer, chances are you’ve already tested cloud-based AI coding assistants. They are fast, but they come with two major drawbacks: **subscription fees** and **code privacy risks**. Sending your company's proprietary codebase or personal projects to third-party servers is a compliance nightmare.
What if you could get smart AI code completions and chat directly inside VS Code without sending a single line of code outside your machine?
In this guide, we will show you how to run **DeepSeek** locally on your own machine and integrate it directly with Visual Studio Code—completely free and 100% private.
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### Step 1: Install Ollama (The Local AI Engine)
To run advanced open-source models like DeepSeek locally, you need a lightweight runtime engine. Ollama is the best tool for this job.
1. Go to the official Ollama website and download the installer for your OS (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
2. Install and run it. It will sit quietly in your system tray.
### Step 2: Download and Run DeepSeek Locally
Once Ollama is installed, open your terminal (Command Prompt, Terminal, or PowerShell) and pull the DeepSeek model. For low-spec or standard developer laptops, the DeepSeek-R1 (Distilled version) is ideal.
Run this command in your terminal:
ollama run deepseek-r1:7b
(Note: If you have a lower-spec machine with less RAM, you can opt for the 1.5b version by typing ollama run deepseek-r1:1.5b).
Once the download finishes, you can chat with DeepSeek directly inside your terminal offline!
### Step 3: Integrate DeepSeek into VS Code
To get AI code suggestions inside your editor just like GitHub Copilot, you need a VS Code extension that supports local models.
1. Open Visual Studio Code.
2. Go to the Extensions marketplace (Ctrl+Shift+X or Cmd+Shift+X).
3. Search for and install CodeGPT or Continue. (Both are free and support Ollama).
4. Open the extension settings, select Ollama as your provider, and choose the deepseek-r1 model you just downloaded.
### Step 4: Start Coding Privately 🚀
You are all set! Open any file in VS Code, highlight a block of code, and use the extension chat panel to refactor, debug, or write new code.
- No subscriptions.
- No data tracking.
- Total code privacy.
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